The Union government informed the Delhi High Court that it blocked the YouTube channel 4 PM News, which has over 8.5 million subscribers, due to alleged conspiracy-driven content and concerns that its monetisation model is part of a broader “foreign influence infrastructure,” Bar and Bench reported.
The Centre has requested that the court order disclosure of the channel’s financial records, arguing that YouTube’s advertising revenue mechanisms can facilitate foreign influence and coordinated digital lobbying. This focus on monetisation, which was largely absent in initial reporting, is central to the government’s defence of the blocking order.
Who Ordered the Block: The affidavit (dated March 10-11) indicates that the takedown process was initiated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in coordination with a security agency. Requests were then sent to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which executes blocking orders under Section 69A of the IT Act.
‘Digital Lobbying’ and Conspiracy Narratives: In its affidavit, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has argued that the channel engaged in “digital lobbying” by using online content to shape public opinion and policy discourse.
The government alleges that the channel promoted “speculative, one-sided and misleading” narratives and disseminated conspiracy theories on sensitive topics, including:
- The Pahalgam terror attack.
- The situation in Manipur.
- India’s foreign policy and military actions.
The Ministry describes this as a “degenerative editorial pattern” that may undermine institutional trust.
Government Frames Content as Threat to Security and Sovereignty: According to the Centre, the channel’s videos questioned the authenticity of India’s military responses, suggested that foreign actors may have influenced the country’s strategic decisions, and amplified narratives that could align with cross-border propaganda. The government argues that such content poses a risk to public order and falls within the scope of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which permits blocking content in the interests of protecting sovereignty, defence, and public order.
Monetisation, Algorithms and ‘Echo Chambers’: A central part of the government’s case is its framing of platform economics. The affidavit argues that YouTube’s ad-based revenue model incentivises engagement-heavy, polarising content, while algorithmic amplification can foster the creation of “digital echo chambers.” It further suggests that financial flows tied to such content may reflect or enable coordinated influence efforts. By seeking the channel’s financial records, the Centre aims to substantiate a link between revenue streams and the alleged influence operations.
Channel’s Challenge: The petitioners, including editor Sanjay Sharma, have challenged the blocking action on procedural grounds, arguing…
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